Las Vegas, Blessed Francis and My Mother

I will openly admit that my heart is torn today for a couple of reasons.  On Monday, we awoke to the news of another mass shooting, this time in Las Vegas.  I’ve been trying to rationalize this irrational act, to comprehend how anyone could do such a thing. Of course that is impossible because there will never be a satisfactory answer.  And today, October 4th, is the anniversary of my mother’s birth.  She would have been 75 (she died when she was 63).  Grief overflows my cup, but I have a choice to let grief overwhelm me or move me toward joy.

In the midst of all this, the Church commemorates St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th, and if anyone can understand being moved from grief to joy, it is blessed Francis.  Unfortunately, too often Francis’ awesome spirituality and theology gets relegated to a small statue with birds alighting on him in a garden or commemorated with a blessing of animals (not that isn’t important!).  While it is true that Francis wrote about his love for “all creatures of our God and King,” it was really all of Creation, even death, that fascinated him, and how all the various parts worked together in a continuous celebration of the Creator.

Francis is a fascinating person for many reasons, but his conversion story offers insight into his amazing ministry and legacy.  [Please note that this is a very short explanation – for a better rendition, talk with Fr. Bill Breedlove, who is a Third Order Franciscan.]  Francis was born into wealth and privilege in the late 12th century in Italy.  It is believed that after a successful career as a solider, he had a vision during a prolonged illness that led him to pursue a life of serving the poor.  Legend has it that when his father confronted him and demanded that he return to his family, Francis renounced his familial status and proceeded to remove all of this clothing, walking away naked.

The Church welcomed Francis and he was ordained as a deacon, however his primary role was as a monk, as he developed a rule of life that can be simply stated to say, “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” For Francis, that included being an itinerant preacher, like Jesus, and having no possessions, like the poor.

While there are many things to say about Francis, my reflections today are drawn to a verse of the hymn “All Creatures of our God and King” that is said to be written by Francis, that states:
And even you, most gentle death,
waiting to hush our final breath,
O praise him, Alleluia!
You lead back home the child of God,
for Christ our Lord that way has trod:
O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia! Alleluia!

The personification of death (like the Angel of Death) as part of what praises God offer me some comfort today.  It does not mitigate the tragedy of the shootings, but it does remind us that those who have died are with God.  Our grief is about missing those who have died, not where they have gone.  It is not death that is evil, so cursing death is unhelpful and can prevent moving from darkness to light.  That movement does not happen quickly, especially for those who have died unexpectedly, but it must happen or we become stuck, unable to find joy, especially when times are difficult. 

I grieve today, but I also praise God because we are not comfortless.  Knowing that makes this day a little easier.

May the souls of all the faithfully departed rest in peace and let light perpetual shine upon them.
For all who grieve, may they know and feel Christ’s eternal presence and consolation.

In Christ,
Rev. Valerie+


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